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Data are presented on high-power AlGaInN flip-chip light-emitting diodes (FCLEDs). The FCLED is “flipped-over” or inverted compared to conventional AlGaInN light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and light is extracted through the transparent sapphire substrate. This avoids light absorption from the semitransparent metal contact in conventional epitaxial-up designs. The power FCLED has a large emitting area (∼0.70 mm2) and an optimized contacting scheme allowing high current (200–1000 mA, J∼30–143 A/cm2) operation with low forward voltages (∼2.8 V at 200 mA), and therefore higher power conversion (“wall-plug”) efficiencies. The improved extraction efficiency of the FCLED provides 1.6 times more light compared to top-emitting power LEDs and ten times more light than conventional small-area (∼0.07 mm2) LEDs. FCLEDs in the blue wavelength regime (∼435 nm peak) exhibit ∼21% external quantum efficiency and ∼20% wall-plug efficiency at 200 mA and with record light output powers of 400 mW at 1.0 A.

Data are presented on the operation of thin-film flip-chip InGaN∕GaN multiple-quantum-well light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The combination of thin-film LED concept with flip-chip technology is shown to provide surface brightness and flux output advantages over conventional flip-chip and vertical-injection thin-film LEDs. Performance characteristics of blue, white, and green thin-film flip-chip 1×1mm2 LEDs are described. Blue (∼441nm) thin-film flip-chip LEDs are demonstrated with radiance of 191mW∕mm2sr at 1A drive, more than two times brighter than conventional flip-chip LEDs. An encapsulated thin-film flip-chip blue LED lamp is shown to have external quantum efficiency of 38% at forward current of 350mA. A white lamp based on a YAG:Ce phosphor coated device exhibits luminous efficacy of 60lm∕W at 350mA with peak efficiency of 96lm∕W at 20mA and luminance of 38Mcd∕m2 at 1A drive current. Green (∼517nm) devices exhibit luminance of 37Mcd∕m2 at 1A.

Electric field enhancement of emission from three non-Coulombic traps has been calculated: the shielded Coulombic potential, the polarization potential, and the dipole potential. Both the Poole-Frenkel effect and phonon-assisted tunneling have been included, and both were found to be important. The field effect can be used to distinguish between these potentials on the basis of their long range character. This effect is most important in interpreting the results of capacitance transient studies of deep levels.

High power light emitting diodes (LEDs) continue to increase in output flux with the best III‐nitride based devices today emitting over 150 lm of white, cyan, or green light. The key design features of such products will be covered with special emphasis on power packaging, flip‐chip device design, and phosphor coating technology. The high‐flux performance of these devices is enabling many new applications for LEDs. Two of the most interesting of these applications are LCD display backlighting and vehicle forward lighting. The advantages of LEDs over competing lighting technologies will be covered in detail.